The Weekly Roll May 23rd 2025
May 23, 2025
Happy Friday!
Welcome back to The Weekly Roll. I hope everyone had a lovely week! Here is what’s happening this week in cannabis and art:
Bong Water Finally Legal : Minnesota just fixed one of the weirdest drug laws on the books by decriminalizing bong water, which could previously land someone with up to 30 years in prison for what was essentially dirty pipe water. The state became a laughingstock after a 2009 court ruling allowed prosecutors to treat bong water like pure drugs, but the new law finally closes this bizarre loophole. Article
Texas Kills Hemp Boom : Texas just passed a ban on legal THC hemp products, essentially shutting down a $5 billion industry that employs over 53,000 people because lawmakers realized their 2019 hemp law accidentally created a cannabis loophole. Critics argue this will just push users back to the black market, since Texas still doesn't allow recreational cannabis use. Article
Interesting Number : 26%. The percentage of the United States' 358 Indigenous communities where cannabis is produced. A new map from the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association shows that more than 100 tribal marijuana and hemp programs are now operating across the country, with some tribes opening dispensaries even in states where cannabis remains illegal. Article
Extreme Photography : Photographer Isaac Wright's solo debut at Robert Mann Gallery in Chelsea took a dramatic turn when four NYPD officers arrested him during his own opening night, apparently after an undercover officer had been "lurking" in the gallery beforehand. Wright, known professionally as "Drift," is famous for his high-altitude urban exploration photography shot from illegally climbed skyscrapers and bridges around New York City. Despite the arrest on criminal trespassing charges, the gallery owner called the opening "a huge success" and remains committed to the exhibition, noting that "the art that challenges and confronts is often the art that changes how we see the world." Article
Have a great weekend!
Aidan